Hi, My names Jim

Hi, My name is Jim, when i was 17 I had a car accident and the result was 2 x spinal fusion, second fusion involved replacing discs , new disc rubbed on aorta causing Aortic aneurism was only 22 at the time now about to turn 42, and PTSD has finally kicked in. Need another fusion as back is buggered but had metal work removed couple of years ago because of a staph infection, and specialists main concern is infection returning as I've had three out of my 7 surgeries.

These days I need to drink myself to sleep and medicate for the chronic pain I suffer every night from my back pain and the stent that runs on the outside of my ribs from my chest to my groin,

I know I'm not the worst out there and do consider myself very lucky, but it's been a long haul.

Never done this before so just want to talk to people living through the same thing as my wife doesn't understand, I met her 6 years after my surgeries so she didnt see me go through thew hardest ones.

[NotanAstronaut]

As a retired GP firstly I'm sorry to hear your story. It does sound very tough and I too, having had open heart surgery for a valve replacement, would not want to have major surgery again for anything.

I would encourage you to say the same as you've posted here to your own GP and see what they say. Perhaps ask if you can be referred to a pain specialist if you haven't been already to help you manage the pain, without alcohol, as I fear that could cause you a lot of harm, obviously depending on how much you're getting through. Alcohol certainly causes depression and that won't help your recovery.

There is treatment for the understandable PTSD that you've got too. Here's a link nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116/... with further links here too. Again, your GP should be able to help you here in accessing help on the NHS.

If you're not advised otherwise consider using chlorhexidine gluconate body wash (one brand is called Hibiscrub but there probably are cheaper ones) for a week in the bath/shower before your surgery. It helps to kill staphylococcus on our skin and reduce your risk of infection post op. Perhaps mention it to your surgeon and see what he/she thinks.

I wonder if many folk on this forum have had back surgery but many of us have had heart/aorta surgery. Your surgeon won't recommend another procedure unless he/she thinks you need it but make sure they have given you all the options and you've had a chance to talk through them. In the past I would normally advise people to have surgery as a last option after exploring other options but it does depend on your circumstances and obviously I can't advise any more than that. It will be tough at times but be patient, think of why you're doing it and what you will be able to do in time because you've had it done. I'm nearly a year on from my surgery and it was a good six months before I started getting back to normal activity and even now my chest wound is sore when I do too much. Use the time to talk to your wife and tell her about your past experiences so she's in the picture. Share all of this with her too. I wish you luck.